Big Papi is the biggest DH

Ortiz slugs 270th HR as designated hitter, passes Thomas

By John Barone / MLB.com

BOSTON -- David Ortiz knows a thing or two about breaking home run records.

Back in 2006, the slugger set the Red Sox's single-season franchise mark with 54 long balls and, after clocking his 24th tater of the year in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Angels at Fenway Park, he now finds himself on top of another historic home run list.

Big Papi's two-out, eighth-inning blast off Los Angeles reliever Jose Arredondo was his 270th dinger as a designated hitter, passing Frank Thomas for the most all-time at that position.

Designated slugger

David Ortiz blasted his 24th homer of the season in the eighth inning Tuesday. It was his 270th as a designated hitter, passing Frank Thomas for the most all-time.

Player

Home runs

David Ortiz

270

Frank Thomas

269

Edgar Martinez

243

Harold Baines

236

Don Baylor

219

"That's something that I wasn't really thinking about," Ortiz said. "But records are there for a reason, and people need to keep that in mind. Being up there with a guy like Frank Thomas, it's great."

What's more, the Red Sox improved to 21-2 this season when Ortiz goes deep, something he's done 23 times since June 6. All of this after a well-documented slow start to 2009 that left him homerless until May 20.